Heat Requirement for Blooming and Leafing in Peach

Abstract

Differences in heat requirements for blooming and leafing were investigated in peach [ Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] using artificially chilled excised shoots and potted trees. `Della Nona' and `BR-1' have high heat requirements; `Planalto', `Sunlite', and `Eldorado' are intermediate; and `Precocinho' and `Riograndense' have low heat requirements. Prolonged chilling enhanced leafing more than blooming. Flower and vegetative buds have different heat requirements during ecodormancy.